'Clash of the Titans' remake snags Liam Neeson

If you had high hopes that the coming remake of 1981's Clash of the Titans would feature an '80-ish cast, I'm here to crush those hopes. Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes have reportedly agreed to play two of the lead roles in the film.

Neeson, inking his first movie deal since the death of his wife Natasha Richardson, will play Zeus, says the Hollywood Reporter. And Fiennes is onboard to play Hades, a role that didn't exist in the first incarnation of the movie. Sam Worthington will play Perseus.

The late Laurence Olivier played Zeus in the 1981 flick, with the largely-just-missing Harry Hamlin as Perseus.

I would have cast the remake a bit differently ...

PERSEUS: Peter Gallagher and his wonder-brows would be perfect. Sadly, Peter is only four years younger than Harry Hamlin.

HADES: Imagine the irony ... Mel Gibson plays the devil. With his impending divorce, he has the time and could use the extra cash.

ZEUS: In a dramatic change of careers, Brat Pack director John Hughes returns to Hollywood to star as the king of gods. Albeit with a nasty temper, but at least a good taste in music, making this remake a must-own soundtrack.

About this blog

Relive the '80s music, movies and culture with Tampa Bay Times correspondent Steve Spears. A teen during the greatest decade ever, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to big hair.